Indian citizens will now be able to apply for Schengen visas from certain countries as VFS Global has decided to open a joint visa application center in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow city.
People can now apply for Schengen Visa from Lucknow without going to New Delhi. There are currently 27 European countries in the Schengen Area, of which 22 are EU member states – these include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia.
On 4 February, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the VFS Global Visa Application Center in Lucknow. Officials told PTI that this VFX visa application center is for the convenience of people applying for visas. This Visa Application Center will start accepting visa applications from countries including Austria, Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Germany from February 9.
What is Schengen Visa?
Schengen refers to the passport-free zone of the European Union which covers most of the European countries. It is the largest free travel zone in the world. A Schengen visa is a short-term visa that allows a person to stay in any member of the Schengen Area for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes.
This is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, travel freely and leave the Schengen area from any Schengen member country. There are no border controls within the Schengen zone.
According to the Schengen Visa website, if someone plans to study, work or stay in one of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, they must apply for a national visa of that European country and not Schengen for visa.
How long does it take to wait for a Schengen visa appointment in India?
Schengen Embassies/Consulates in India usually require you to schedule an appointment for your visa application 4-6 weeks in advance. Therefore, start the application process before your upcoming trip, given that it will take another two weeks for the embassy to reach a decision. Again, remember that appointments can be booked before the summer or winter holidays, so start early. You can apply up to six months in advance.
When should you apply for Schengen Visa?
Any person who is an Indian citizen and holds a valid Indian passport can apply for a Schengen visa. Schengen Embassies/Consulates in India usually require you to schedule an appointment for your visa application 4-6 weeks in advance. It is important to note that appointments can be booked before the summer or winter holidays. Submit your Schengen visa application at least 15 days before your planned trip and no earlier than six months.
How to apply for Schengen Visa from India?
Find out what type of visa you need.
Determine where to apply.
book an appointment.
Prepare your visa documents.
submit your application.
Pay the visa fee.
Get your Visa.
Documents required for Schengen visa
Documents required for Schengen Visa from India: Application form, Your Indian passport (original and a copy), Photos of identity, Certificate of civil status (This includes birth certificate, marriage certificate, family certificate, or death certificate ), proof of residence, round-trip flight itinerary, travel health insurance, proof of visa fee paid, cover letter, proof of sufficient financial means.
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